2000 Excursion Towing
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From: Salida,CA
2000 Excursion Towing
Hey Excursion owners,
I've got some questions concerning towing capabilities. I have a 2000 Excursion 4x4 with the 7.3L PSD, and the specs I have pulled up show a 10,000 LB towing capacity. I believe I have a 3.73 axle ratio (how do you find out ?). I have a travel trailer that I will be pulling that weighs 9400 LBS fully loaded. I'm told the rule of thumb is that the hitch/tongue needs to be capable of handling 15% of the total load ?. With this being the case, 1410 LBS would be my 15%, is this ratio correct ?. I plan on utilizing a sway control/load stabilizer hitch with electric brake, is this good enough ?. I'm told that air bags would be a good investment for towing this type of trailer. My goal is to do it right, but I would like to keep costs within reason.
My final concerns would be my GCWR, I believe it is 20,000 LBS ?. Will load range "D" tires be adequate for towing this type of trailer, or will I need to go to a "E" rated tire. The tires that I have are load rated at 2470 LBS (@ 50 PSI), will this be adequate ?. I would appreciate any help and/or advise you could give me.
Best regards,
Steve Fisher
I've got some questions concerning towing capabilities. I have a 2000 Excursion 4x4 with the 7.3L PSD, and the specs I have pulled up show a 10,000 LB towing capacity. I believe I have a 3.73 axle ratio (how do you find out ?). I have a travel trailer that I will be pulling that weighs 9400 LBS fully loaded. I'm told the rule of thumb is that the hitch/tongue needs to be capable of handling 15% of the total load ?. With this being the case, 1410 LBS would be my 15%, is this ratio correct ?. I plan on utilizing a sway control/load stabilizer hitch with electric brake, is this good enough ?. I'm told that air bags would be a good investment for towing this type of trailer. My goal is to do it right, but I would like to keep costs within reason.
My final concerns would be my GCWR, I believe it is 20,000 LBS ?. Will load range "D" tires be adequate for towing this type of trailer, or will I need to go to a "E" rated tire. The tires that I have are load rated at 2470 LBS (@ 50 PSI), will this be adequate ?. I would appreciate any help and/or advise you could give me.
Best regards,
Steve Fisher
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Georgia
I have a 00 7.3l and tow a 34' travel trailer. I use a weight distribution hitch from Reese. The trailer is about 9400 lbs loaded. I have no problems.
I use factory tires (on second set) and of course electric brakes. Be sure to adjust your trailer brakes to assist in braking, as you will be stopping a big load.
I use factory tires (on second set) and of course electric brakes. Be sure to adjust your trailer brakes to assist in braking, as you will be stopping a big load.
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Second star to the right!
9400#....No problem. Definitely get a weight distributing (I'm sure you already have one). If you do not have sway control, get it, and get the dual cam style of sway control. It is well worth the extra few dollars. That friction style sway control is garbage. D rated tires should be fine, but definitely take it across some scales to find out for sure. The front axle of your tow rig should not even be a concern. But, the rear axle will be. If you are overloading the tires, it will almost be a certainty that it will be on the rear axle of the tow rig.
I pulled 12200# with a gasser, WD hitch, sway control, and D rated tires. It wasn't the ideal towing condition, but I did it, so you should not have to worry at all about 9400#. Good luck.
I pulled 12200# with a gasser, WD hitch, sway control, and D rated tires. It wasn't the ideal towing condition, but I did it, so you should not have to worry at all about 9400#. Good luck.
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 394
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From: SEVA
Ditto the WD hitch. You can pump up air bags all day long, but that still does nothing to distribute some of the hitch weight to the front wheels. I use one just to tow 5200#. It simply makes for a smoother drive with more "felt" control.
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You're getting some great advice here, I have to agree - get you a weight distribution hitch, and dual cam sway control, and you'll be good. There are other, better hitches available (like the Hensley or Pullrite), but they cost a lot more $$$, and I'm not sure it would be necessary.
I seem to recall that the diesel's tow rating is 11,000 lbs, not 10,000. It is 9600 for the V10 gasser with 3.73 gears (our Ex), that may be where you got the 10,000. Sooo, since your truck's capacity is 11,000 lbs, 9400 lbs loaded for your trailer will not be a problem with that diesel.
Big concern I'd have (as others have already said), is overloading your rear axle or exceeding the truck's GVWR, with all that tongue weight your trailer will have. Thats why, I'll agree with what someone else said, about taking the combination to a scale ASAP, weigh it and find out. If you are over on your rear axle, I'd look into getting some air bags or helper springs of some kind. The Excursion's rear axle is actually rated for 7,000 lbs (same axle they put on F350!), so you don't have to worry about the axle itself. Weak point is the leaf springs, so if you beef those up, you'll be good.
Will
I seem to recall that the diesel's tow rating is 11,000 lbs, not 10,000. It is 9600 for the V10 gasser with 3.73 gears (our Ex), that may be where you got the 10,000. Sooo, since your truck's capacity is 11,000 lbs, 9400 lbs loaded for your trailer will not be a problem with that diesel.
Big concern I'd have (as others have already said), is overloading your rear axle or exceeding the truck's GVWR, with all that tongue weight your trailer will have. Thats why, I'll agree with what someone else said, about taking the combination to a scale ASAP, weigh it and find out. If you are over on your rear axle, I'd look into getting some air bags or helper springs of some kind. The Excursion's rear axle is actually rated for 7,000 lbs (same axle they put on F350!), so you don't have to worry about the axle itself. Weak point is the leaf springs, so if you beef those up, you'll be good.
Will
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 394
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From: SEVA
Yo' WILLAID -- The Excursion axles are NOT the same as those in the F350. I built one set of custom radius-rods for a buddy's F350, and found his axle tube to be 4 inches in diameter versus the Excursion's 3-1/2 inch diameter tube. I cannot ascertain the weight ratings for both, but they're definately different in size.
Last edited by LANDYOT; Jan 23, 2004 at 04:15 PM.
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From: Columbia, ILL/St. Louis M
I too am looking for better ride and control in my EX. I pull an 26 ft TT with hitch weight control BUT it stills feels like I am on a water bed. Yes the tires are up and the hitch does take off the weight, I am looking at some air bags from CenturyPerformance.com It should give my EX the furm feel like when I tow the same TT with my 03 2500 Dodge truck TD 4x4. It has the extry leaf springs that the EX dose not and helps out when towing.
I dont want to add a lift to the back of the EX, because it would lose that nice ride I get now not loaded. The air bags can be ajusted as needed.
Greg
I dont want to add a lift to the back of the EX, because it would lose that nice ride I get now not loaded. The air bags can be ajusted as needed.
Greg
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From: High Bridge USA
I tow a 32 Ft trailer and will be towing a 34' trailer this year. Always go with weight distribution and dual cam anti-sway. I did put the heliwig sway bar in the year and you must get rid of the stock stocks, The add to the water bed ride. I have enjoyed towing my trailer around the hills of pennsy and NY will no problem stayinfg with if not passing traffic. If I keep my foot off the accelerator I can average 11-11.5 MPG doing 68 MPH. I did go the extra route of adding guages, a definite must for towing and keeping the temps out of the red (mostly EGT entering the turbo) . I also have the Super CHip micro tuner in tow mode. First tow vehicle I have owned that doesn't complain about that extra 8-9K out back.
My new trailer is 2 foot longer with a slide out and still comes in at the curb weighing the same as my 32' non-slide trailer.....enjoy.
My new trailer is 2 foot longer with a slide out and still comes in at the curb weighing the same as my 32' non-slide trailer.....enjoy.
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Originally posted by LANDYOT
Yo' WILLAID -- The Excursion axles are NOT the same as those in the F350. I built one set of custom radius-rods for a buddy's F350, and found his axle tube to be 4 inches in diameter versus the Excursion's 3-1/2 inch diameter tube. I cannot ascertain the weight ratings for both, but they're definately different in size.
Yo' WILLAID -- The Excursion axles are NOT the same as those in the F350. I built one set of custom radius-rods for a buddy's F350, and found his axle tube to be 4 inches in diameter versus the Excursion's 3-1/2 inch diameter tube. I cannot ascertain the weight ratings for both, but they're definately different in size.
Don't believe it? Download/read this:
https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas...essd_03abb.pdf
Note on page 55, that the F350 front axle has a rating of 5200 lbs - same as the front axle on the Ford Excursion.
Also note on page 56, that the rear axle on a SRW F350 has a rating of 6830 lbs - same as the axle rating on the Excursion. Yes, the DRW F350 has a higher rating, so I'll bet thats what you worked on.
Also note on that page, that the F350 DRW rear axle is 4" around, vs the F350 SRW is 3 1/2". Sooo, I'd say you were definitely working with a duallie, since you specifically said the axle was 4" on the F350, vs. the Ex's 3 1/2" rear axle.
(Understand, I'm talking about the axle itself's weight rating, NOT the GAWR rating on the Ex's sticker. I understand, that the GAWR rating on the Ex's sticker are somewhat less than the axle weight rating I gave above. This is because the Ex's leaf springs are softer than what they put on the F350. As I said in an earlier post, that can be solved with a few upgrades.)
Will
Last edited by willald; Jan 25, 2004 at 03:04 PM.
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: SEVA
WILLAID -- You're absolutely correct. The F350 I worked on was a dually. I'll have to take a peek under some SRW F350s. Then again, maybe not since I'm not building the radius-rods for the pick-up models anymore ... just for the X.
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Originally posted by LANDYOT
WILLAID -- You're absolutely correct. The F350 I worked on was a dually. I'll have to take a peek under some SRW F350s. Then again, maybe not since I'm not building the radius-rods for the pick-up models anymore ... just for the X.
WILLAID -- You're absolutely correct. The F350 I worked on was a dually. I'll have to take a peek under some SRW F350s. Then again, maybe not since I'm not building the radius-rods for the pick-up models anymore ... just for the X.
Really says a lot I think, for the Ex's load handling capability, when almost all the parts underneath are the same as whats used in a 1 ton truck, that has a 9900 GVWR.
Will
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How do you find out if you have 3.73...?
To find out your axle type look at the vehicle certification label:
Axle Type
31 — 3.73 non-limited slip, F-250/Excursion
C1 — 3.73 limited slip, F-250/Excursion
32 — 4.10 non-limited slip, F-250
C2 — 4.10 limited slip, F-250/Excursion
33 — 4.30 non-limited slip, F-250
C3 — 4.30 limited slip, F-250/Excursion
With regards to the towing weight, I believe that the PSD version of the excursion has a slightly reduced towing spec (<10,000 lbs) due
to the extra weight of the diesel engine.
Axle Type
31 — 3.73 non-limited slip, F-250/Excursion
C1 — 3.73 limited slip, F-250/Excursion
32 — 4.10 non-limited slip, F-250
C2 — 4.10 limited slip, F-250/Excursion
33 — 4.30 non-limited slip, F-250
C3 — 4.30 limited slip, F-250/Excursion
With regards to the towing weight, I believe that the PSD version of the excursion has a slightly reduced towing spec (<10,000 lbs) due
to the extra weight of the diesel engine.
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